INDIAN RIVER STATE COLLEGE NAMED TOP TEN NATIONAL FINALIST FOR 2019 ASPEN PRIZE FOR COMMUNITY COLLEGE EXCELLENCE

Indian River State College was named a top-ten national finalist for the prestigious Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, the nation’s signature recognition of high achievement and performance among America’s community colleges. This marks the third time IRSC has been selected as a top ten finalist. In 2017, the College advanced to the Aspen Prize Top 3 as a Finalist with Distinction.

“The selection of Indian River State College as a three-time Aspen Prize Top 10 Community College is a tremendous honor recognizing the exceptional commitment to student success and results achieved by our college’s faculty, staff and administration,” said Dr. Edwin R. Massey, IRSC President “Advancing to the final round of this competition for the third consecutive time brings increased national attention to our college and community, and more importantly, validates our drive to continuously improve for our students. IRSC’s sustained excellence is a credit to our people — students, employees, and community partners — who strive every day to be the best college in America. This honor is truly theirs.”

IRSC was selected from more than 1,000 state and community colleges following a rigorous review of data, strategies and outcomes related to student learning, degree and certificate completion, high rates of graduate employment, earnings for graduates, and exceptional access and success for minority and low-income students.

“With the nearest alternatives at least 60 miles away, Indian River State College is the only public higher education option for many of its students, and it delivers what they need whether their immediate goal is workforce preparation or earning a bachelor’s degree,” said Joshua Wyner, Executive Director of the Aspen Institute’s College Excellence Program in Washington, D.C. “IRSC has achieved strong results by engaging in scaled reforms in multiple areas – from training everyone on customer service to ensuring that graduates have the skills they need for a job and have a clear map of the courses that they need to get to their chosen career. The College’s consistent drive to improve translates into what matters most: strong and improving levels of student success.”

According to the Aspen Institute, Indian River State College stands out as one of the nation’s top community colleges for many reasons, including:

Impressive three-year graduation/transfer rates for all students (49 percent as compared to 40 percent nationally).

IRSC offers 17 bachelor’s degrees in its world-class facilities, all aligned to high-demand jobs in the region.

Exemplary work in developing clear programs of study that help students successfully complete classes and graduate, strengthened by intensive advising, progress tracking, and early interventions that keep students on track all the way to graduation.

Additional factors underscore IRSC’s commitment to student success:

During the 2017-2018 academic year, IRSC’s graduating class—3,951 students—was the largest in the College’s 58-year history;

94% of IRSC graduates find employment or continue their education, typically earning more than twice the average entry wage in the four-county area; and

IRSC is designated as the 3rd Most Affordable College in the U.S. by the Department of Education, with no tuition increase in six years.

The Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence is awarded every two years. In April 2019, the $1 million Prize purse will be awarded at an event in Washington, D.C., to the winner, two or three finalists-with-distinction, and a “Rising Star” that has achieved exceptional levels of improvement. The 2019 Aspen Prize is generously funded by the Joyce Foundation, The Kresge Foundation, and the Siemens Foundation.

Three Florida colleges—Indian River State College, Broward College, and Miami Dade College—are among the 2019 finalists. The 2019 Aspen Prize Finalists, listed in alphabetical order are:

Alamo Colleges District – Palo Alto College – San Antonio, TX

Broward College – Fort Lauderdale, FL

CUNY Kingsborough Community College – Brooklyn, NY

Indian River State College – Fort Pierce, FL

Miami Dade College – Miami, FL

Mitchell Technical Institute – Mitchell, SD

Odessa College – Odessa, TX

Pasadena City College – Pasadena, CA

Pierce College at Fort Steilacoom – Lakewood, WA

San Jacinto College – Pasadena, TX

Indian River State College is a public, comprehensive college serving Florida’s Treasure Coast with campuses in Fort Pierce, Okeechobee, Port St. Lucie, Stuart and Vero Beach. IRSC has earned a statewide and national reputation for quality, innovation and responsiveness to community needs, inspiring more than 30,000 people to enroll in courses, training and enrichment each year. Every aspect of IRSC is focused on student success with small classes, personalized guidance, convenient campuses and online programs. IRSC is ranked as the 3rd Most Affordable College in the country by the U.S. Department of Education, and in recognition of its strong commitment to student success, was named a Top-Ten Nationalist Finalist for the prestigious Aspen Award in 2015 and 2017, a Top-Three Aspen Award Finalist with Distinction in 2017, and an Achieving the Dream Leader College in 2017.

The Aspen Institute College Excellence Program aims to advance higher education practices, policies, and leadership that significantly improve student outcomes. Through the Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, the Siemens-Aspen Community College STEM Award, and other initiatives, the College Excellence Program works to improve colleges’ understanding and capacity to teach and graduate students, especially the growing population of low-income and minority students on American campuses.

The Aspen Institute is an educational and policy studies organization based in Washington, DC. Its mission is to foster leadership based on enduring values and to provide a nonpartisan venue for dealing with critical issues. The Institute is based in Washington, DC; Aspen, Colorado; and on the Wye River on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. It also has offices in New York City and an international network of partners.